How do I Replace the Key for my Yakima or Thule Rack?

For one reason or another, losing the key to your roof rack is a common problem for our customers. Luckily, getting a new key is a relatively easy process.

Thule and Yakima both use ‘lock cores' for all of their racks. These lock cores are made by a third party and bought in bulk by the rack companies, who then sell them to Rack Attack, who in turn hands them over to you. To ensure the security of your rack both Yakima and Thule have a large number of lock cores and corresponding keys, each with a unique number associated to it.

Replacing Your Thule Keys

For Thule rack owners replacing a lost key is extremely simple. Just look on the lock core's face and you will see a number stamped, in the image above the key number is N113. By placing an order for a single key with us, and putting the number N113 in the comments field, we will send you that specific key to work with your racks.

Replacing Your Yakima Keys

For Yakima rack owners, getting a replacement key is a little more difficult than with Thule. The issue with Yakima is the lock core number is stamped on the side of the core, as seen in the picture above. We highly recommend all Yakima rack owners write down their key numbers (or take a picture and store it in evernote!) to make replacing a lost key as simple of a process as with Thule.

Just place an order for a single Yakima key, and add the key number (such as A155) in the comments.

But what if you don't know your Yakima key number?

In the scenario where you don't know the number of your Yakima locks, you're in a bit more of a pickle than with Thule. Since the only way to find out your lock core number is to actually take out the lock and look, you're going to need an extraction key. An extraction key is a blank (uncut) key which can be used to remove the lock core. Unfortunately, if the rack is locked this can not be used.

For a locked Yakima rack you're going to have to get help. Any Yakima dealer should have a master set of all the Yakima keys on hand. They can manually try every key until the find the one that fits your rack. If you're nowhere near a dealer with a full set of keys, then you are left getting creative:

• You can find a locksmith to pick the lock, and pull the core for you.
• You can order one of every Yakima key, and return the ones you don't need.
• You can arrange to mail your locked rack to a store, and have them send it back to you, along with the keys you need.

As usual, Rack Attack will assist you in whatever way you need, just give us a call and let us know how we can be of service.